M-Audio Audiophile 2496 PCI Interface

M Audio's Audiophile 2496 card is the latest addition to its highly successful Delta family of sound cards. The Audiophile 2496 is an all-in-one high-fidelity sound card solution for a wide variety of applications, ranging from multitrack recording to computer-based home theater. Analog I/O is available on RCA jacks, utilizing the same professional 24-bit 96kHz conversion as the Delta 44 and Delta 66 cards. S/PDIF I/O and MIDI I/O provide connectivity to both digital devices and the world of MIDI. The Audiophile 2496 includes a powerful digital mixer/router, and control over SCMS (Serial Copy Management System). Delta cards support all computer platforms and major software programs.

With software support, the Audiophile 2496 is one of the highest-fidelity home theater sound card available today.

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"M Audio has done right with the Audiophile 24/96"

Sound:
Crystal clear 24/96 sound with just about absent noise and distortion. What else can I say?
Feature:
Clearly the best card in it's price range and for another $200 or so above it for that matter. I had done quite a bit of shopping before I bought this one. Digital and analog sources can be used at the same time. It has basic features, but those features are well-designed and practical.
Quality:
I'm not one to care about the looks of an audio card so I just won't comment on that. The product appears to be made well and is packaged well for transit. I expect it will work well for years to come.
Value:
Hands-down best value for the price in my book. In my exhaustive search for the best card for my application, I found nothing coming close with regards to specs, price, and quality.
Manufacturer Support:
I have not had to use support per se. I just downloaded the newest drivers. I did have to manually pick the drivers instead of windows finding them automatically for some reason, but they did load fine after that.
The Wow Factor:
This is not a ground-breaking product with regards to features. It's a very well-designed "workhorse". Not alot of bells-and-whistles. You can find features like this in many other cards, but the appeal certainly lies in the value for your money and ease of use.
Overall:
I will be using this product for years to come I imagine. I will certainly look at M Audio for my next card due to my experience with this one. If I had to buy another card right now, it would be this one.

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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
"Best Soundcard below $250. Seriously."

Sound:
Obviously not the best sound out there, but quite probably the best sound for its price. It's hard to tell, because it's good enough that my speakers are holding it back. o_O
Feature:
This soundcard doesn't have many fancy features, but what it does do, it does perfectly. For the vast majority of people, your sounds' limiting factor will be your other equipment, not this card. I've never gotten better sound out of my stereo.
Mind you, you can only have two input channels, and two output channels, which almost always ends up being stereo. Still, amazing for its price.
Ease of Use:
I triple boot Ubuntu Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows Vista. This soundcard works perfectly for me in all three- no fiddling around in menus, not even in the notoriously finicky Linux. I've had more trouble with setting up (shudder) integrated soundcards than with this one.
Quality:
Looks nice, sounds nice. Rugged for a sound card.
Value:
Easy to use, Sounds great. Definitely worth your $107.
Manufacturer Support:
I haven't needed this card repaired, but I've dealt with M-Audio's customer service before and they are quite nice.
The Wow Factor:
Ah... is blue. Is nice.
Come on! It's a sound card. Even if this one is plain, everything ever made by Soundblaster is still like the hunchback of Notre Dame or something. For a sound card, it's lovely.
Overall:
As I've mentioned already, this soundcard is being held back by my other equipment. If/when I upgrade to the point that it's the other way around, I'll have to upgrade this too. Until then, it's worth it for sure.

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